System for detecting falls and discriminating the severity of falls

ABSTRACT

A system for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall includes a mobile device configured to communicate a network, a notification module, and a wearable device configured to communicate with the mobile device, the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured to record detected movement on the activity log. The notification module is configured to effect a selectable setting of a rate of communication between the mobile device and the wearable device based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log, where the selectable setting defines a predetermined period of communication between the mobile device and the wearable device. The fall discriminator is configured to determine when the activity log includes a notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/174,105, filed on Oct. 29, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/405,170, filed on Jan. 12, 2017, (nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,147,296), which is a non-provisional of and claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/277,853 filed Jan.12, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

FIELD

The present embodiments relate a system for detecting falls, moreparticularly, a system for discriminating the severity of falls.

BACKGROUND

Accidental falls and slips are significant contributors to injuries and,potentially, death, among the elderly and the sick. In many cases, fallscan result in broken bones, head injuries or other injuries such assprains or ligament tears. Annually, 2.5 million Americans are treatedin an emergency room for fall-related injuries and up to 700,000Americans are hospitalized each year for serious injuries stemming fromhead injuries or hip fractures. Adjusted for inflation, direct medicalcosts arising from injuries from a fall result in nearly $3.4 billiondollars annually, most of which are hospital costs. While prior art falldetection systems exist, the prior art systems often are subject toseveral disadvantages. Some prior art systems include a fall detectionsystem on a wearable device or fall monitor device that run continuouslyin the foreground of wearable device or fall monitor device processor.These prior art systems are capable of continuously detecting fallevents in substantially real time. However, in these prior art systems,wearable devices or fall monitoring devices are always “awake” anddevote substantial processing resources to the fall detection system.This is a burden on the battery life of wearable devices or fallmonitoring devices, and increase downtime due to frequent recharges,thereby reducing the effectiveness of the monitoring system. Other priorart systems rely on accelerometer data from mobile phones or smartphones, typically kept in a pocket or on a belt holster, to detect fallevents or fall injuries. However, these solutions are also imperfect.Mobile phones aren't always kept on the body at all times, thus limitingthe time during which fall detection and monitoring can be active.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and other features of the present disclosedembodiment are explained in the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation illustrating an overview of thesystem for detecting falls and discriminating the severity of fallsaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the operation of a systemfor detecting falls and discriminating the severity of falls accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is an exemplary representation of a user interface according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is an exemplary representation of a user interface according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the selection of aselectable rate of communication according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4A is an exemplary representation of a user interfaces according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is an exemplary representation of a user interfaces according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating thesystem. Although the present invention will be described with referenceto the embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood thatthe present exemplary embodiments can be used individually or in anysuitable combination thereof. Although the aspects of the disclosedembodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, it shouldbe understood that the aspects of the disclosed embodiment can beembodied in many alternate forms. In addition, any suitable size, shapeor type of elements or materials could be used.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary block diagram illustrating the falldetection and discrimination system 100 is shown. In one aspect, thefall detection and discrimination system 100 includes a server 110, awearable device 130 and a mobile device 120. In one aspect, the mobiledevice 120 is in communication with the wearable device 130. In anotheraspect, the server 110 is also in communication with the wearable device130. In one aspect, both the mobile device 120 and the server 110 arefurther in communication (shown in phantom) with a second party 160.

The server 110 includes a fall discriminator 113, a network module 111and a database 112. The mobile device 120 includes a processor 121, anetwork module 122 which is communicable with the network module 111 ofthe server 110, a fall discriminator 123 and a database 124. In oneaspect, the mobile device 120 also includes a notification module 125,the operation of which is described in greater detail below. In oneaspect, the mobile device 120 also includes an intervening module 126.The wearable device 130 includes a processor 134, a display 135, a fallmonitor 131 configured to record detected movement to an activity log132 resident on the wearable device, and a network module 133 which iscommunicable with the mobile device 120. In one aspect, the wearabledevice 130 also includes a notification module 135 similar to thenotification module 125. In one aspect, the mobile device 120 initiatesa communication with the wearable device 130 and receives the activitylog 132. The mobile device 120 is also configured to discriminate, withthe fall discriminator 123, when the activity log 132 includes a fallevent based on a predetermined pattern defining the fall event. Themobile device 120 further discriminates, such as with the falldiscriminator 123, the severity of the detected fall based on datarecorded in the activity log 132.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fall detection and discriminationsystem 100 is shown along with an exemplary flow chart of the operationof the fall detection and discrimination system 100. The fall detectionand discrimination system 100 includes the wearable device 130. In oneaspect, the wearable device 130 is a smart watch, such as, for example,an Apple Watch®, an Android® Wear watch, a Pebble® Watch or SamsungGear® watch. However, in other aspects, the wearable device 130 is awearable belt, a wearable clip-on device, wearable bracelet or othersmart wearable device. In one aspect, the wearable device 130 includesthe fall monitor 131. In one aspect, the fall monitor 131 is configuredto detect motion, falls, acceleration, G-forces and/or impacts. In oneaspect, the fall monitor 131 includes a multi-axis accelerometer, suchas, for example, a 3-axis accelerometer capable of measuring themagnitude of acceleration along 3 axes. In other aspects, the fallmonitor 131 also includes gyroscopes or inertial measurement units. Inyet other aspects, the fall monitor 131 includes integrated barometersfor detecting transitions in height or barometric pressure. In oneaspect, the fall monitor 131 is configured to wake upon detection of anacceleration, a displacement or a movement by the fall monitor 131,which initiates recording on the activity log 132. In another aspect,the fall monitor 131 is substantially continuously recording oroperating in the background at all relevant times (e.g., no or limitedforeground processing power is used to continuously record or registerdata from the fall monitor 131) as to effect real-time or near real-timedetection of activity including activities discernible as fall events.The wearable device 130 further includes the activity log 132 residenton the wearable device 130 which records, in near real-time, theselected activity data (including magnitude, timing, duration of actionand inactivity) from the recorded data from the fall monitor 131.

In one aspect, the activity log 132 includes data records or registersdata from the fall monitor 131 which includes a record of one or moredetected falls and detected lie states. A fall is, in one aspect, adetected movement, acceleration or displacement detected by the fallmonitor 131. In one aspect, the falls recorded by the fall monitor 131can be categorized as high mechanical motions or low mechanical motionsaccording to, for example, a detected acceleration, deceleration orimpact. A detected lie state is, in one aspect, a period of low movementdetected by the fall monitor 131. The detected lie state is, in oneaspect, a state of the user following a detected fall event (which caninclude, e.g. one or more of a fall action, a detected impact and atleast some lie state, in a predetermined pattern, magnitude andduration) recorded by the fall monitor 131, representing the user lyingon the ground. In one aspect, the fall monitor 131 further is furtherconfigured to provide discrimination of position, particularly as itrelates to, for example, the relative height of the wearable device 130.In one aspect, the fall monitor 131 can discriminate between theactivity and/or the body position, pose or orientation of a wearer. Forexample, the fall monitor 131 can discriminate between standing, sittingor lying positions as well as any changes to these positions such asjumping, falling, running or slipping. In one aspect, the fall monitor131 is also tuned or configured to filter sensor data to a predeterminedlevel, so that fall monitor 131 data record is definitive of activityindicative and consistent with fall events, as well as indicative of thebefore and after state of a wearer associated with the fall event (e.g.the state of a wearer before and after the fall event). For example, thefall monitor 131 can, in one aspect, detect and discriminate the stateof a wearer prior to the detected impact (e.g. lying down, sitting,walking, or running) and the state of the wearer following the detectedimpact (e.g. getting up or lying down in a lie state).

In one aspect, the activity log 132 also includes one or more lieperiods recorded by the fall monitor 131. Generally, a lie period is aperiod of time a fallen individual is detected to be in the lie state(e.g. a wearer is lying, or otherwise inactive in a collapsed position,on the ground or other lying surface) following a detected fall event.As noted previously, the fall event may be one or more activity orpattern of activities as registered on the activity log 132. This caninclude, for example, a fall activity, an impact and a lie state. Aftera predetermined lie period following a detected fall event has passedand the wearer is still in a lie state, a fall event may further bediscriminated between a non-severe and a severe fall (described infurther details below).

In one aspect, the wearable device 130 includes the notification module136 which is configured to effect a selectable setting for controlling arate of communication by the network module 133 between the wearabledevice 130, the mobile device 120 and/or the server 110. In one aspect,the rate of communication also controls the rate of communicationbetween the notification module 136 and the activity log 132 on thewearable device 130. The selectable setting further defines apredetermined period between communications between, for example, thewearable device 130, the mobile device 120 and/or the server 110. Bycontrolling the rate of communication of the network module 133, thenotification module 136 improves system operation and performance by,for example, by conserving battery life of the mobile device 120 and thewearable device 130 (e.g. by reducing the rate of communication betweenthe wearable device 130 and the mobile device 120), reducing datatransmission bandwidth and providing better communication links (e.g.for example, by minimizing processor activity on the wearable device130, mobile device 120 and server 110; minimizing wearable device 130,mobile device 120 and server 110 processor sizes, reducing systemresources and overhead on the wearable device 130, mobile device 120 andserver 110, or reducing network or connectivity congestion).

In one aspect, the selectable setting for controlling the rate ofcommunication is based on one or more predetermined patterns of fallevents by a fall discriminator (e.g. the fall discriminator 123 of themobile device 120, or fall discriminator 113 of the server 110). Byreceiving a selection of the selectable setting, in one aspect, theperiod of communication between the wearable device 130, the mobiledevice 120 and/or the server 110 is based at least in part on thepredetermined pattern of fall or fall events used by a falldiscriminator 123, 113. For example, in one aspect, the setting of therate of communication, the selection of which is effected by thenotification module 136, is based, at least in part, on a predeterminedlie period following a impact detected from fall activity as part of thepredetermined pattern. However, in other aspects, the rate ofcommunication is based on other parts of the predetermined pattern. Byadjusting the rate setting of communication based on at least a part ofthe predetermined pattern of fall event, the selectable setting of therate of communication provides a prospective setting for the rate ofcommunication that is tailored to the discrimination of fall eventsbased on the predetermined patterns employed by the fall discriminators123, 131, rather than merely reacting or responding to periods ofinactivity on a wearable device 130 or mobile device 120. Moreover, suchselectable setting leverages the predetermined pattern of the falldiscriminator 125, 136 to increase efficiency of the system, avoidingcommunication during times that do not serve towards definition anddiscrimination of a fall.

In one aspect, the period between communications based on the selectablesetting is longer than the predetermined lie period of the predeterminedpattern. In one aspect, the period between communications is multiplesof the predetermined lie period of the predetermined pattern. In otheraspects, the period between communications is seconds or minutes longerthan the predetermined lie period of the predetermined pattern. In yetother aspects, the period between communications is substantiallysimilar or otherwise related to the predetermined lie period. Relatingthe period between communications to the predetermined lie period allowsthe mobile device 120 to further leverage the period betweencommunications to help discriminate whether a fall is severe or notwhile saving battery use, or otherwise providing improved systemoperability as previously noted. For example, if the predetermined lieperiod is the same or shorter than the period between communications,when a fall is detected and a full period between communications passesindicating the user is still in a lie state on the ground, in oneaspect, the mobile device 120 can quickly and efficiently discriminatethe severity of the detected fall event on this basis. In other aspects,if the period between communications is shorter than the predeterminedlie period, the mobile device 120 can more quickly discriminate theseverity of any detected falls and respond more quickly to detectedfalls or injuries and facilitates a simplified discrimination algorithmby the fall discriminators 123, 113 by performing comparisons betweenlie time and period and immediately (within the context of processorperforming the simplified comparison) to discriminates the fall eventseverity. The selectable setting of the rate of communication, in oneaspect, further allows for the mobile device 120 and wearable device 130to be in an inactive or sleep state for most of the time, becomingactive only after the period of communication determined by thenotification module 136 has passed.

In one aspect, the notification module 136 of the wearable device isconfigured to effect a selectable setting of the rate of communicationsubstantially independently of a communication protocol or communicationstandard. For example, the Bluetooth® protocol limits the period of timeassigned to sleep modes to about 65,440 slots (approximately 40seconds). The notification module 136 is configured to provide forperiods between communication that is greater than what a communicationprotocol like Bluetooth® provides. In one aspect, the notificationmodule 136 is configured to disable the at least part of the networkmodule 133 of the wearable device to achieve a lower rate ofcommunication between the wearable device 130 and the mobile device 120and/or the server 110. In one aspect, the notification module 136 of thewearable device is in communication with an intervening module 137 whichis configured to disable at least a part of the network module 133 toaccommodate a period between communication that is greater than what ispermitted by the communication protocol. In yet other aspects, thenotification module 136 is configured to effect a selectable setting ofthe rate of communication in accordance with a communication protocol orstandard where there is no conflict between the communication protocoland the selectable setting of the rate of communication.

In one aspect, the wearable device 130 is in communication with themobile device 120. Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile device120 is, in one aspect, a mobile device or a smart phone such as, forexample, an Apple® iPhone®, an Android® phone, a Windows® phone or aBlackberry® phone. In other aspects, the mobile device 120 is a tabletor other mobile computing device. In yet other aspects, the mobiledevice 120 includes fixed or stationary devices such as, for example,home monitoring stations for monitoring a user's physical condition. Inone aspect, the mobile device 120 includes the notification module 125which is configured to provide a selectable rate of communicationbetween the mobile device 120 and the wearable device 130 substantiallysimilarly to the notification module 136 described above. In one aspect,based on the selectable setting of the rate of communication set by thenotification module 125, the mobile device 120 initiates a communicationwith wearable device 130 with the network module 122 and receives theactivity log 132 resident on the wearable device 130 (see block 215 ofFIG. 2). In one aspect, the mobile device 120 further includes a falldiscriminator 123 configured to analyze the received activity log 132 todiscriminate when the activity log 132 includes a notable fall event.

In one aspect, the fall discriminator 123 is configured to discriminatethe activity log 132 based on the predetermined pattern corresponding tothe selectable setting of the rate of communication between the mobiledevice 120, wearable device 130 and/or server 110. In one aspect, thefall discriminator 123 determines if the activity log 132 includes anotable fall event which corresponds to the predetermined pattern (whichis selected as part of the selectable setting by the notificationmodules 125, 136). In one aspect, the fall discriminator 123 isconfigured to look at the lie period within the activity log 132 to seeif the lie period exceeds a threshold lie period defined by thepredetermined pattern. In yet other aspects, the fall discriminator 123leverages the selectable setting of the rate of communication to quicklydetermine whether a notable fall event has occurred. For example, whenthe selectable setting of the rate of communications is set, thecommunications between the fall discriminator 123 and the activity logwill be nearly coincident with the determination of the fall by the falldiscriminator 123. Thus, by leveraging the selectable setting of therate of communication, unnecessary communications between the falldiscriminator 123 and the activity log 132 is minimized. For example, ifa fall discriminator 123 discriminates a fall where when a lie state of5 seconds is registered on the activity log 132, setting a rate ofcommunication once a second would result in four unnecessarycommunications between the fall discriminator 123 and the activity log132, reducing battery life. However, if the selectable setting ofcommunication is set to, for example, once every 5 seconds, thenunnecessary communication is minimized. In some aspects, the falldiscriminator 123 further discriminates if the detected impact exceeds asecond impact threshold defining a high energy fall event.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A-2B, after the mobile device 120receives the activity log 132 from the wearable device 130 (block 215 ofFIG. 2), the fall discriminator 123 resident on the mobile device isconfigured to discriminate the severity of a fall based on a fall event(e.g. an acceleration, a displacement or motion) and the detected liestate following the fall event based on the activity log 132 (block 220of FIG. 2) in accordance with the predetermined pattern. In one aspect,the fall discriminator 123 further analyzes the activity log 132 todetermine the before state of the wearer before and following thedetected impact. For example, the fall discriminator 123 filters thedata recorded in the activity log 132 to determine the pose, orientationor position of the wearer and what activity the wearer was engaged inbefore a detected impact. In one aspect, the fall discriminator 123 isfurther connected to a database 124, which is a database of models, ordata patterns which characterize or models one or more aspects of a fall(e.g. the fall event pattern describing or defining the fall). In oneaspect, the fall discriminator 123 analyzes the activity log 132 basedon the data patterns from the database 124. In one aspect, the database124 is substantially similar to the database 112 resident on the server110. The database 124, in one aspect, also includes a library of lowimpact events and high impact fall event patterns. In one aspect, thedatabase 124 also includes data patterns or models or criteria fordiscriminating the before and after state of a wearer associated with afall event. The fall discriminator 123 can, in one aspect, determinewhether a wearer is standing, sitting, lying down, running or jumpingprior to a detected impact based on the database 124. In one aspect, thefall discriminator 123 determines the before state of the wearer inresponse to receiving the periodic signal 140 from server 110. In oneaspect, the fall discriminator 123 can further discriminate betweenregular fall events (e.g. low energy impacts) and high energy fallevents (e.g. high energy impacts) based on determining whether theactivity log 132 includes a detected impact that exceeds a first impactthreshold or a second impact threshold. In one aspect, the first impactthreshold defines a regular fall event (see block 225 of FIG. 2). In oneaspect, the second impact threshold defines a high energy fall (seeblock 231 of FIG. 2) which can be discriminated as a notable fall event.

Referring still to FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A-2B, at block 220, the falldiscriminator 123 determines whether the activity log 132 includes adetected impact that exceeds the first impact threshold or the secondimpact threshold. In yet other aspects, the fall discriminator 123 canmeasure more than two impact thresholds. In determining whether thedetected impact on the activity log 132 is a low energy impact or a highenergy impact, the fall discriminator 123 can, in one aspect, take intoconsideration the state of the wearer before the fall. For example, inone aspect, a wearer who is lying down prior to the detected impact ismore likely to be discriminated based on the first impact threshold(e.g. a low energy impact), whereas, in another aspect, a wearer who isrunning or jumping up and down prior to the detected impact is morelikely to be discriminated based on the second impact threshold (e.g. ahigh energy impact).

If the detected impact exceeds the first impact threshold (block 225 ofFIG. 2) indicating a low energy impact, the fall discriminator 123further determines whether a predetermined lie period has passed (block226 of FIG. 2). As noted previously, the predetermined lie period is theperiod of time a fallen wearer is in a lie state (e.g. the wearer islying on the ground following a fall). In one aspect, when the falldiscriminator 123 determines that the detected impact exceeds the firstimpact threshold and the following lie state exceeds a predetermined lieperiod, the fall discriminator 123 determines that the detected impactmatches a low energy impact (block 227 of FIG. 2). When a low energyimpact is determined by the fall discriminator 123 based on the activitylog 132, the mobile device 120 signals to the wearable device 130 topresent a status check user interface 250A on display 135 as shown inFIG. 2A. In one aspect, this may be effected via the notification module125, 136 that is configured to set the rate of communication with thefall discriminator 113, 123 and receive the discrimination of a fallfrom the fall discriminator 113, 123 as low energy. In one aspect, thenotification module 125, 136 is also configured to initiate a statuscheck interface presented on the user interface 250A as described below.The status check user interface 250A is presented by the wearable device130 in response to, and coincident with, the signal from mobile device120. In one aspect, the wearable device 130 presents, on user interface250A, a first selectable element 251 (with exemplary indicia “I'm Okay,”but in other aspects, can have any suitable indicia) and a secondselectable element 252 (with exemplary indicia “Help!” but in otheraspects, can have any suitable indicia). When the wearer selects thefirst selectable element 251, the user indicates that the fall was notsevere. No additional alerts are generated by the mobile device 120 andthe wearable device 130. When the wearer selects the second selectableelement 251, the wearer indicates that the fall was severe, an alert inthe form of an alert user interface 250B (as shown in FIG. 2B anddescribed in greater detail below) is generated and presented on thedisplay 135 of the wearable device 130. When the wearer fails to selectany of the selectable elements presented in user interface 250A after apredetermined period of time, the alert user interface 250B is alsogenerated as described below. In one aspect, the predetermined time forresponding to selectable elements 251, 252 is less than thepredetermined lie period. However, in other aspects, the predeterminedtime for responding to selectable elements 251, 252 is more than thepredetermined lie period. In yet other aspects, the predetermined timefor responding to the selectable elements 251, 252 is related to orbased on the predetermined lie period.

In one aspect, when the fall discriminator 123 determines that thedetected impact exceeds the second impact threshold (block 231 of FIG.2) and the following lie state exceeds a predetermined lie period (block232 of FIG. 2), the fall descriminator 123 determines that the detectedimpact matches a high energy impact (block 233 of FIG. 2). When a highenergy impact is determined by the fall discriminator 123 based on theactivity log 132, the mobile device 120 signals to the wearable device130 to present the alert user interface 250B on display 135 as shown inFIG. 2B. In one aspect, this may be effected via the notification module125, 136, which is configured receive the discrimination of a fall fromthe fall discriminator 113, 123 as high energy. In one aspect, thenotification module 125, 136 is also configured to initiate a statuscheck interface presented on the alert user interface 250B as describedbelow. In one aspect, the alert user interface 250B is presented by thewearable device 130 in response to, and coincident with, the signal frommobile device 120. In one aspect, the alert user interface 250B andincludes audio or vibration feedback, such as, for example, “Taptic”feedback using the “Taptic Engine™” resident on an Apple Watch™. Inother aspects, the alert also includes flashing lights or otherattention-grabbing notifications. In one aspect, the alert userinterface 250B includes a third selectable element 253 (with exemplaryindicia “I'm Okay,” but in other aspects, the third selectable element253 can have any suitable indicia). If the user selects the thirdselectable element 253, the alert is cancelled and the mobile device 120and wearable device 130 resets to an initial state (e.g. reverts to astate before the fall event is detected). If the wearer does not respondto the alert after a predetermined time, the mobile device 120 andwearable device 130 can, in one aspect, generate one or more message toone or more parties 160. In one aspect, the message to the one or moresecond parties include, for example, location data (e.g. GPS data), adate and timestamp, heart rate data or any other suitable message. Inone aspect, the one or more second parties 160 include relatives,caretakers, friends or medical professionals. In other aspects, thesecond party 160 is a central monitoring service which monitors wearersfor detected falls. In one aspect, the predetermined time for respondingto the selectable element 253 is less than the predetermined lie period.However, in other aspects, the predetermined time for responding to theselectable element is more than, the same as, or substantially relatedto the predetermined lie period.

In one aspect, when the fall discriminator 123 determines that thedetected impact does not exceed either the first impact threshold or thesecond impact threshold, and/or the lie period does not exceed thepredetermined lie period, the fall discriminator 123 determines that noimpact patterns are matched (block 240 of FIG. 2). When no impactpatterns are matched, no further action is taken by the mobile device120 and the wearable device 130 (block 245 of FIG. 2).

The fall detection and discrimination system 100 also includes theserver 110. In one aspect, the server 110 is one or more computers orbackend servers. In other aspects, the server 110 is a cloud provider orvirtual servers in a cloud. In one aspect, the server 110 includes adatabase 112. In one aspect, the database 112 includes a database ofmodels, or data patterns which characterize or models one or moreaspects of a fall event. The database 112, in one aspect, also includesa library of low impact events and high impact fall event patterns. Inone aspect, the database 112 also includes data patterns or models orcriteria for discriminating the before and after state of a wearerassociated with a fall event. In yet other aspects, the database 112includes other data, including user data such as emergency contact datafor each user or wearer. In one aspect, the server 110 also includes thefall discriminator 113, the operation of which will be described ingreater detail below.

The server 110 further includes a network module 111. In one aspect, thenetwork module 111 is communicable with the internet. In other aspects,the network module 111 is a Bluetooth® module, or an RF module, or anymodule capable of generating a signal. It can be realized, in oneaspect, the server 110 can communicate directly with the wearable device130 (shown in phantom) and according to the selectable setting of therate of communication between the wearable device 130 and the server110. In other aspects, the server 110 communicates with the mobiledevice 120 instead of the wearable device 130 directly. In one aspect,the server 110 initiates access to the activity logs 132 resident on thewearable device 130 in accordance with the selectable setting of therate of communication based on the predetermined pattern set andeffected by the notification modules 136, 125. In one aspect, the server110 also includes the fall discriminator 113 which functionssubstantially similar to fall discriminator 123 resident on the mobiledevice 120. The server 110 and the fall discriminator 113, in oneaspect, can detect and discriminate the severity of the fall insubstantially similar manner as the mobile device 120 and the falldiscriminator 123 as described above, thereby bypassing the mobiledevice 120.

In one aspect, the server 110 and mobile device 120 can communicate withthe second party 160 when an alert is generated. In one aspect, thesecond party 160 can include, for example, a monitoring service oremergency services. In other aspects, the second party 160 can alsoinclude emergency contacts, such as family members, family doctors orcaretakers defined by the family. In other aspects, the second party 160includes any third party which may receive alerts generated by the falldetection and discrimination system 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4A-4B, an exemplary flowchart illustratingthe selection of a selectable rate setting of communication according toone aspect of the present disclosure as well as exemplary userinterfaces of the wearable device 130 and the mobile device 120 areshown. At block 301, the notification module 136, 125 receives aselectable setting of a rate of communication based on at least part ofa predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator. In one aspect, thisselectable setting of the rate of communication is selected by anadministrator or a doctor and may be preselected. In other aspects, theselectable setting may be changed and adjusted over the network. In oneaspect, the selectable setting is selected based on a predeterminedpattern tailored to a specific patient or user. For example, a user whois chair-bound may have be associated with a different predeterminedpattern than a user who suffers from seizures. The selectable settingmay be set for a particular user or patient in a manner that iscompletely transparent to the user or patient. In other aspects, theselectable setting may be set by the user or patient directly. As can beseen in FIG. 4A, an exemplary user interface 400A on the wearable device130 is shown. The user interface 400A includes, for example, one or moreselectable elements 401, 402 which corresponds to one or morepredetermined patterns of the fall discriminator 131, 123. Similarly, inFIG. 4B, an exemplary user interface 400B of the mobile device 120 isshown. The user interface 400B presents one or more selectable elements403, 404, 405 which correspond to one or more predetermined patterns ofthe fall discriminator 131, 123. In one aspect, the fall patternspresented to the user corresponds to different predetermined patternsused by the fall discriminators 131, 123. For example, one of theselectable elements 401-405 may correspond to a predetermined pattern offalling from a seated position. This predetermined pattern correspond tofalls by chairbound patients. Another one of the selectable elements401-405 may correspond to a predetermined pattern for a high energyfall. This predetermined pattern corresponds to athletes or drivers whomay experience highly energetic falls.

In one aspect, each of the predetermined patterns of falls presented inthe selectable elements 401-405 corresponds to a rate of communicationbetween the wearable device 130 and the mobile device 120 and/or theserver 110. For example, a predetermined pattern for a high energy fallexperienced by athletes may have a shorter lie duration as part of thepredetermined pattern. The shorter lie duration is associated with afaster rate of communication between the wearable device 130 and themobile device 120 and/or the server 110. In contrast, a predeterminedpattern corresponding to a low energy fall, such as from a chair orseated position, may have a longer lie duration as part of thepredetermined pattern. The longer lie duration is associated with a slowrate of communication between the wearable device 130 and the mobiledevice 120 and/or the server 110. At block 302, the notification modules136, 125 effects the selectable setting of the rate of communicationbased on at least part of the predetermined pattern. For example, thenotification module 136, 125 can set a slower rate of communicationcorresponding to a predetermined pattern for a low energy fall, or afaster rate of communication corresponding to a predetermined patternfor a high energy fall. At block 303, the notification module 136, 125determines whether the period of communication based on at least part ofthe predetermined pattern has elapsed. If the period of communicationhas not elapsed, then the notification module 136 disables the networkmodule 133, 122 of the wearable device 130 or the mobile device 120 andwaits (block 305). If, at block 303, the period of communication haselapsed, then the notification module 136, 125 enables the networkmodule 122, 133 and initiates access to the activity log 132 by eitherthe mobile device 120 or the server 110.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, asystem for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall isdisclosed, the system including a server, a mobile device communicablewith the server, a wearable device communicable with the mobile device,the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity logresident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured tocontinuously record detected movement on the activity log, wherein, theserver is configured to periodically communicate a signal to the mobiledevice to initiate access to the activity log on the wearable device,where there is a predetermined period between signals, wherein, themobile device is configured to determine when the activity log includesa detected impact exceeding a predetermined impact threshold defining afall event and a lie state following the detected impact, wherein themobile device further is configured to discriminate the severity of thefall based on the detected impact and the detected lie state and isfurther configured to generate an alert based on the severity of thefall.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe mobile device initiates access to the activity log on the wearabledevice in response to the signal from the server. A1) The system ofclaim A, where the wearable device includes a display displaying an userinterface.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indiciaindicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indiciaindicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interfacefollowing the detected impact exceeding the predetermined impactthreshold.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the mobile device is configured to reset to an initial statewhen the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the firstselectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearerindicates that assistance need by selecting the second selectableindicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, mobiledevice is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the predetermined period between signals is related to thepredetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the wearable device is further configured to present a thirdselectable indicia with the display indicating no assistance neededfollowing the detected impact exceeding a second predetermined impactthreshold defining a high energy fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the mobile device is configured to reset to an initial statewhen the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the thirdselectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer failsto respond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the alert includes at least one of a message to a second partythrough a second wearable device worn by the second party, a secondmobile device owned by the second party or a message to a centralmonitoring agency.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, systemfor detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, the systemincluding a server, a wearable device communicable with the server, thewearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident onthe wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured tocontinuously record detected movement on the activity log, wherein, theserver is configured to periodically communicate a signal to thewearable device to initiate access to the activity log on the wearabledevice, where there is a predetermined period between signals, theserver further is configured to determine when the activity log includesa detected impact exceeding a predetermined threshold defining a fallevent and a lie state following the detected impact, wherein the serveris further configured to discriminate the severity of the fall based onthe detected impact and the detected lie state and generates an alertbased on the severity of the fall.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device initiates access to the activity log on the wearabledevice in response to the signal from the server.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device includes a display displaying a user interface.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indiciaindicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indiciaindicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interfacefollowing the detected impact exceeding the predetermined impactthreshold.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the server is configured to reset to an initial state when thewearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectableindicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, theserver is configured to generate the alert when the wearer indicatesthat assistance need by selecting the second selectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, theserver is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the predetermined period between signals is related to thepredetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the wearable device is further configured to present a thirdselectable indicia with the display indicating no assistance neededfollowing the detected impact exceeding a second predetermined impactthreshold defining a high energy fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the server is configured to reset to an initial state when thewearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the third selectableindicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe server is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, thealert includes at least one of a message to a second party through asecond wearable device worn by the second party, a mobile device ownedby the second party or a message to a central monitoring agency.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, amethod for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, themethod including providing a wearable device including a fall monitorand an activity log resident on the wearable device and continuouslyrecording detected movement on the activity log with the fall monitor,with a server, periodically communicating a signal to a mobile device toinitiate access to the activity log on the wearable device, where thereis a predetermined period between signals, determining, with the mobiledevice, when the activity log of the wearable device includes a detectedimpact exceeding a predetermined impact threshold defining a fall event,determining, with the mobile device, when the activity log includes alie state following the detected impact, generating an alert, with themobile device, when the mobile device discriminating the severity of thefall based on the detected impact and the detected lie state.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes initiating, with the mobile device, access tothe activity log on the wearable device in response to the signal fromthe server.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes presenting a first selectable indicia indicatingno assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicatingassistance needed to a wearer on a display on the wearable devicefollowing the detected fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes resetting the mobile device to an initial statewhen the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the firstselectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes generating the alert when the wearer indicatesthat assistance is need by selecting the second selectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes generating the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the predetermined period between signals is related to thepredetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes presenting a third selectable indicia with thedisplay indicating no assistance needed following the detected impactexceeding a second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energyfall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes resetting the mobile device to an initial statewhen the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the thirdselectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further includes generating the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the alert includes at least one of a message to second partythrough a second wearable device worn by the second party, a secondmobile device owned by the second party or a message to a centralmonitoring agency.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, asystem for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall includesa mobile device communicable a network, a notification module, and awearable device communicable with the mobile device, the wearable deviceincluding a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearabledevice, where the fall monitor is configured to record detected movementon the activity log, wherein, the notification module is configured toeffect a selectable setting of a rate of communication between themobile device and the wearable device based on at least part of apredetermined pattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log,where the selectable setting defines a predetermined period ofcommunication between the mobile device and the wearable device,wherein, the fall discriminator is configured to determine when theactivity log includes a notable fall event based on the predeterminedpattern.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to determine when activitylog includes a lie period following the notable fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate theseverity of the notable fall event based on the predetermined patternand is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity ofthe fall.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate a notablefall event based on a detected impact exceeding an impact thresholddefined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state following thedetected impact.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the predetermined period of communication is based on a liestate period of the predetermined pattern.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the notification module is part of the mobile device.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the notification module is part of the wearable device.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the rate of communication is independent of a communication rateof a predetermined communication protocol.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device includes a display displaying an user interface.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indiciaindicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indiciaindicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interfacefollowing a notable fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the mobile device is configured to reset to an initial statewhen the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the firstselectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearerindicates that assistance need by selecting the second selectableindicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer failsto respond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, asystem for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, thesystem includes a server, a notification module, a wearable devicecommunicable with the server, the wearable device including a fallmonitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where thefall monitor is configured to record detected movement on the activitylog, wherein, the notification module is configured to effect aselectable setting of a rate of communications between the server andthe wearable device based on at least part of a predetermined pattern ofa fall discriminator within the activity log, where the selectablesetting defines a predetermined period of communication between thewearable device and the server, wherein, the fall discriminator furtheris configured to determine when the activity log includes a notable fallevent based on the predetermined pattern.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to determine when theactivity log includes a lie state following the notable fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate theseverity of the notable fall event based on the predetermined patternand is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity ofthe notable fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate a notablefall event based on a detected impact exceeding an impact thresholddefined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state following thedetected impact.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the predetermined period of communication is based on a liestate period of the predetermined pattern.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the notification module is part of the mobile device.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the notification module is part of the wearable device.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the rate of communication is independent of a communication rateof a predetermined communication protocol.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device initiates access to the activity log on the wearabledevice in response to the signal from the server.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device includes a display displaying an user interface.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherethe wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indiciaindicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indiciaindicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interfacefollowing the detected impact exceeding the predetermined impactthreshold.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the server is configured to reset to an initial state when thewearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectableindicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, theserver is configured to generate the alert when the wearer indicatesthat assistance need by selecting the second selectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, theserver is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, amethod for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall includesproviding a wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity logresident on the wearable device and recording detected movement on theactivity log with the fall monitor, effecting a selectable setting of arate of communication between the wearable device and a mobile devicewith a notification module based on at least part of a predeterminedpattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log, the selectablesetting defining a predetermined period of communication between themobile device and wearable device, determining, with the falldiscriminator, when the activity log of the wearable device includes anotable fall event based on the predetermined pattern. 29. The method ofclaim 28, further comprising discriminating the severity of the notablefall event, with the fall discriminator, based on the predeterminedpattern and is further configured to generate an alert based on theseverity of the notable fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further comprising discriminating a notable fall event, with thefall discriminator, based on a detected impact exceeding an impactthreshold defined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state followingthe detected impact.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the rate of communication is based on a lie state period of thepredetermined pattern.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,wherein the rate of communication is independent of a communication rateof a predetermined communication protocol.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further comprising presenting a first selectable indiciaindicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indiciaindicating assistance needed to a wearer on a display on the wearabledevice following the detected fall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further comprising resetting the mobile device to an initialstate when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting thefirst selectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further comprising generating the alert when the wearer indicatesthat assistance is need by selecting the second selectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure,further comprising presenting a third selectable indicia with thedisplay indicating no assistance needed following the detected impactexceeding a second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energyfall event.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further comprising resetting the mobile device to an initialstate when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting thethird selectable indicia.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, themethod further comprising generating the alert when the wearer fails torespond within a predetermined lie period

It should be understood that the foregoing description is onlyillustrative of the aspects of the disclosed embodiment. Variousalternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in theart without departing from the aspects of the disclosed embodiment.Accordingly, the aspects of the disclosed embodiment are intended toembrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fallwithin the scope of the appended claims. Further, the mere fact thatdifferent features are recited in mutually different dependent orindependent claims does not indicate that a combination of thesefeatures cannot be advantageously used, such a combination remainingwithin the scope of the aspects of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for detecting and discriminating theseverity of a fall, the system comprising: a mobile device configured tocommunicate with a network; a notification module; and a smart watchconfigured to communicate with the mobile device, the smart watchincluding, so as to operate as background tasks, a fall monitor and anactivity log resident on the smart watch, where the fall monitor isconfigured to record detected movement on the activity log; wherein, thenotification module is configured to effect a setting of a predeterminedrate of communication between the notification module and the activitylog based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a falldiscriminator within the activity log operating in the background, wherethe setting defines a predetermined communication periodicity having theset communication rate between the notification module and the activitylog, which the predetermined communication periodicity having the setcommunication rate, so defined, is based on the at least part of thepredetermined pattern independent from a determination of the falldiscriminator; wherein, the fall discriminator is configured todetermine when the activity log includes a notable fall event based onthe predetermined pattern, and wherein at least one of the mobile deviceand the smart watch are configured to send a message related to thenotable fall event based at least in part on heart rate registered bythe smart watch.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the falldiscriminator is configured to determine when activity log includes alie period following the notable fall event.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate theseverity of the notable fall event based on the predetermined patternand is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity ofthe fall.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fall discriminator isconfigured to discriminate a notable fall event based on a detectedimpact exceeding an impact threshold defined by the predeterminedpattern and a lie state following the detected impact.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined period of communication is based on alie state period of the predetermined pattern.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the notification module is part of the mobile device.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the notification module is part of the smartwatch.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the set predetermined rate ofcommunication effected by the notification module is independent of acommunication rate of a predetermined communication protocol.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, where the smart watch includes a display displayingan user interface.
 10. The system of claim 9, where the smart watch isconfigured to present a first selectable indicia indicating noassistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistanceneeded to a wearer through the user interface following a notable fallevent.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device isconfigured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates noassistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, the mobile device is configured to generate thealert when the wearer indicates that assistance need by selecting thesecond selectable indicia.
 13. The system of claim 10, the mobile deviceis configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respondwithin a predetermined lie period.
 14. A system for detecting anddiscriminating the severity of a fall, the system comprising: a server;a notification module; a smart watch configured to communicate with theserver, the smart watch including, so as to operate as background tasks,a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the smart watch, wherethe fall monitor is configured to record detected movement on theactivity log; wherein, the notification module is configured to effect asetting of a predetermined rate of communications between thenotification module and the activity log running in the background onsmart watch based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a falldiscriminator within the activity log, where the setting defines apredetermined communication periodicity having the set communicationrate between the notification module and the activity log, which thepredetermined communication periodicity having the set communicationrate, so defined, is based on the at least part of the predeterminedpattern independent from a determination of the fall discriminator;wherein, the fall discriminator further is configured to determine whenthe activity log includes a notable fall event based on thepredetermined pattern, and wherein at least one of the server and thesmart watch is configured to send a message related to the notable fallevent based at least in part on heart rate registered by the smartwatch.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the fall discriminator isconfigured to determine when the activity log includes a lie statefollowing the notable fall event.
 16. The system of claim 14, whereinthe fall discriminator is configured to discriminate the severity of thenotable fall event based on the predetermined pattern and is furtherconfigured to generate an alert based on the severity of the notablefall event.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the fall discriminatoris configured to discriminate a notable fall event based on a detectedimpact exceeding an impact threshold defined by the predeterminedpattern and a lie state following the detected impact.
 18. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the predetermined period of communication is based ona lie state period of the predetermined pattern.
 19. The system of claim14, wherein the notification module is part of the mobile device. 20.The system of claim 14, wherein the notification module is part of thesmart watch.
 21. The system of claim 14, wherein the rate ofcommunication is independent of a communication rate of a predeterminedcommunication protocol.
 22. The system of claim 14, where the smartwatch initiates access to the activity log on the smart watch.
 23. Amethod for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, themethod comprising: providing a smart watch including a fall monitor andan activity log resident on the smart watch, operating as backgroundtasks and recording detected movement on the activity log with the fallmonitor; effecting a setting on the smart watch of a rate ofcommunication between a notification module of the smart watch and theactivity log based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a falldiscriminator within the activity log, the setting defining apredetermined period of communication between the notification moduleand activity log set based on at least part of the predetermined patternindependent from a determination of the fall discriminator; determining,with the fall discriminator, when the activity log of the smart watchincludes a notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern; andsending, the smart watch, a message related to the notable fall eventbased at least in part on heart rate registered by the smart watch. 24.The method of claim 23, further comprising discriminating the severityof the notable fall event, with the fall discriminator, based on thepredetermined pattern and is further configured to generate an alertbased on the severity of the notable fall event.
 25. The method of claim23, further comprising discriminating a notable fall event, with thefall discriminator, based on a detected impact exceeding an impactthreshold defined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state followingthe detected impact.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the rate ofcommunication is based on a lie state period of the predeterminedpattern.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the rate of communicationis independent of a communication rate of a predetermined communicationprotocol.
 28. The method of claim 23, the method further comprisingpresenting a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance neededand a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a weareron a display on the smart watch following the detected fall event. 29.The method of claim 28, the method further comprising resetting themobile device to an initial state when the wearer indicates noassistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia.
 30. Themethod of claim 28, the method further comprising generating the alertwhen the wearer indicates that assistance is need by selecting thesecond selectable indicia.
 31. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising presenting a third selectable indicia with the displayindicating no assistance needed following the detected impact exceedinga second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energy fallevent.
 32. The method of claim 28, the method further comprisingresetting the mobile device to an initial state when the wearerindicates no assistance needed by selecting the third selectableindicia.
 33. The method of claim 28, the method further comprisinggenerating the alert when the wearer fails to respond within apredetermined lie.